Local racer hopes to turn small donations into giant Steppe

Tucson.com - Full Article

July 18, 2015 7:58 pm • By Jon Gold

So it turns out the trek of the lifetime takes a little planning.

Later this month, Tucson horsewoman Michelle Tanaka, 25, will take on the Mongol Derby, a brutal journey that traces the mail route of Genghis Khan. The longest of its kind in the world, the race will take her more than 600 miles over the Mongolian Steppe.

The journey to get there might be even harder.

Early on, Tanaka — new to a job at Summit Hut in Tucson and a little too timid to boast about her ambition — left people in the dark about her plans. She puts it simply: “I didn’t want to be that kid.”

But money needed to be raised, particularly for the Canyon del Oro High grad’s two causes — the National Alliance on Mental Illness and Cool Earth, a UK-based organization for rain forest protection — at least enough to meet the fundraising minimum of $1,560...

Read more here:
http://tucson.com/sports/local-racer-hopes-to-turn-small-donations-into-giant-steppe/article_99174411-bef1-5568-b785-f2ec11bc291d.html

Mongol Derby: The Final Countdown

Horse-canada.com - Full Story

Desk to Derby | July 20, 2015
by Liz Brown

The last two weeks have zoomed past and today I realize that in seven days I leave for Mongolia. It’s a bit surreal that my departure is so close now, having spent the last 11 months completely focused on this one goal.

This past week I met another Derby rider – Michelle Tanaka – who drove nine hours from Arizona to come ride with me in Moab. On the first day of her stay, she got kitted out in her Derby gear (giant helmet visor, camelback, and photographer vest OVER the camelback) and hopped aboard a green broke Arabian named Ozi that Meryl and I have been training. Ozi was a bit freaked out, having never encountered a rider resembling the hunchback of Notre Dame and proceeded to scoot and canter laps in the round pen as Michelle tried to calm him.After only a few minutes she said she was ready to hit the trail.

This girl is a lot braver than I, who bailed from Ozi just a week earlier when he did a big spook and bolt at a man in the neighbourhood who was pushing a bucket and pulling weeds from his driveway.

Her gear preparation is also well ahead of mine. She can pack her saddlebag in seven minutes and seems to have prepared for every eventuality...

Read more here:
http://www.horse-canada.com/desk-to-derby/the-final-countdown/

Tracking Ghengis Khan, 1000km on horseback

NZHerald.co.nz - Full Article and Video

Sunday Jul 19, 2015

Whether it's sky diving or spur-of-the-moment camps in the bush, Katikati man Ben Wilks has always been one to follow his sense of adventure.

Now the 24-year-old plans, quite literally, to follow the tracks of Ghengis Khan in a ten-day, 1000km horse ride across the vast Mongolian steppe.

Completing what is regarded as the world's longest and toughest horse race - and hopefully winning it - could prove the highlight of his life.

Mr Wilks, a life-long rider who trains horses at a Tauranga racing stables, heard about the Mongol Derby from a friend from Northland who managed it two years ago.

His give-it-a-go outlook led him to apply, and he was surprised to find that he and a mate from Taranaki had been chosen as one of 30 riders to contest the challenge...

More here:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11483542

The Kiwi Crabbet Arabian horse connection

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

Robin Marshall | 19 July 2015

A look at some of the recent developments in the breeding of Pure Crabbet Arabians in New Zealand.

The Crabbet Arabian in New Zealand has undergone somewhat of a resurgence in recent months, with four new pure Crabbets being brought into the country by existing breeders looking to consolidate these bloodlines in their breeding programmes.

Sadly, none of the early imports into New Zealand – dating from as early as the 1930s and 1940s – exist today in Pure Crabbet breeding in the country, but there are many high percentage descendents, many of whom also include “Colonial” blood in their lineage, such as that of Shahzada...

Read more: http://horsetalk.co.nz/2015/07/19/kiwi-crabbet-arabian-horse-connection/#ixzz3gLY0jsHC

FEI urges caution over use of muscle product in sport horses

Horsetalk.co.nz - Full Article

Horsetalk.co.nz | 18 July 2015

The FEI has urged caution over the use of an Argentinian equine muscle product called Fustex because it may contain propoxyphene, which is banned under the world governing body’s drug rules.

Fustex is manufactured by Chinfield S.A. and is used in particular to stimulate muscle work.

The FEI, in an official communication, said propoxyphene was not listed as an ingredient of Fustex in the product information made available by the manufacturer...

Read more: http://horsetalk.co.nz/2015/07/18/fei-caution-muscle-product-sport-horses/#ixzz3gLWjYtPH

New Zealand: Clean Sport Testing Officials

NZEquestrian.org.nz

17 July 2015

Equestrian Sports New Zealand (ESNZ) is looking to recruit and train Clean Sport Testing Officials to carry out the National and FEI Clean Sport Programme.

As a Clean Sport Testing Official you will have exceptional organisational, coordination and communication skills. You will work alongside ESNZ National Office, Event Organising Committee members, Event Secretaries, Veterinarians, Riders and the person responsible for the horse/pony to ensure that Clean Sport is promoted positively and run efficiently and effectively during the event.

You will also be able to think fast and be flexible when circumstances change. Adherence to the rules, confidentiality, fairness and integrity are core principles of ESNZ Clean Sport, you will also have a natural empathy when dealing with those being tested as the process can be daunting at times.

Full training will be provided.

Please note this volunteer role does attract remuneration of $50 per test plus travel. You will be required to hold full ESNZ membership.

If you would like further information on this role or would like to apply, please do so by emailing the National Sport Administrator: nicky@nzequestrian.org.nz

Devan Horn, Mongol Derby Veteran, Returns for 'Round Two'

by Merri Melde-Endurance.net
July 16 2015

It wasn't in her plans, but Texan Devan Horn will return to Mongolia to contest the 7th renewal of the Mongol Derby on August 5-15. Billed as "the longest and toughest horse race in the world," it traverses the Mongolian Steppe, following part of Genghis Khan's 13th century relay postal system (think the US Pony Express on super steroids), with riders navigating by map and GPS, and changing horses every 40 km at Urtuus, or stations, eating and sleeping with locals in their gers, or eating and camping out in the open. The Mongolian ponies are billed as "semi-wild." Danger and hardships are guaranteed; so is an incredible experience of a lifetime.

The Adventurists, who put on the Mongol Derby, put out a call only weeks earlier to veteran Mongol Derby riders, hoping to fill spots after several dropouts for this year's Derby. "After some hard thinking, some meditation, a couple of cocktails, and some of the most rigorous fitness testing I've ever put my body through, I've decided it's time to pick up the proverbial sword again," Horn said.

It was the 2013 Mongol Derby, where Horn crossed the finish line first after riding a ‘near immaculate race’, but received a 2 hour penalty when her horse did not pulse down in the required time, which gave the victory to Britain Lara Prior-Palmer, second over the finish line an hour later.

Despite the short notice, Devan is ready to have another go. "In 2013, I rode with all my heart and all my strength. This year, my heart and my strength are far greater, and I mean to ride as best I can."

Mongol Derby participants are required to raise money for charity, and Horn's chosen charity is the Houston SPCA, a place near and dear to her heart.

Over 20 riders from around the world (USA, United Kingdom, Spain, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, Austria, Sweden, Netherlands, France, Canada, Norway, South Africa) are expected to participate.

Check out the contestants, and stay tuned for updates at

http://www.endurance.net/international/Mongolia/2015MongolDerby/